Ramayana. Rama and Sita and Lakshman go into Exile.
Driving fast for two days, Rama reached the boundary of Koshala, and, turning back toward Ayodhya, bade farewell to land and people. "O best of cities," said he, "I say it to thee and to the deities that guard and dwell with thee: returning from my forest home, my debt paid off, thee and my father and my mother I will see again." Then they left Koshala, rich in wealth and kine and Brahmans, and passed through other smiling lands until they reached the blessed Ganga, crystal clear, resorted to by every creature, haunted by gods and angels, sinless and sin-destroying. There Guha, king of Nishadha, greeted them and fed their horses and kept guard over them all night, and when the dark cuckoo's note and the peacock's cry were heard at dawn he sent for a splendid ferry-boat. Then Rama asked for starch-paste, and he and Lakshman dressed their hair in matted locks, after the fashion of hermits dwelling in the forest. Rama said farewell to Guha, and Sumantra the charioteer he bade go back to Ayodhya, though he prayed to follow farther. Then as they crossed, Sita prayed to Ganga for safe return after fourteen years, vowing to worship that River-Queen with many offerings.
That night they dwelt by a great tree on the farther bank and ate boar's flesh slain by Rama and Lakshman; and those two brothers vowed to protect Sita and each other, whether in solitude or amongst men. Lakshman should walk in front, then Sita, and Rama last. They talked also of Ayodhya, and Rama, fearing Kaikeyi's evil heart, would have Lakshman return to care for Kaushalya; and he railed against Kaikeyi and somewhat blamed his father, swayed by a woman's will. But Lakshman comforted his brother so that he wept no more. "Thou shouldst not grieve," he said, "grieving Sita and me; and, O Rama, I can no more live without thee than a fish taken out of water -- without thee I do not wish to see my father, nor Satrughna, nor Sumitra, nor Heaven itself." Then Rama was comforted, and slept with Sita under the banyan-tree, while Lakshman watched.
Next day they reached the holy place where Ganga joins with Jamna at Prayag; there they came to the hermitage of Bharadwaja, guided by the wreathing smoke of his sacrificial fire, and they were welcome guests. Bharadwaja counselled them to seek the mountain of Chitrakuta, ten leagues from Prayag. "There is a fit abode for thee," he said, "graced with many trees, resounding with the cries of peacocks, and haunted by great elephants. There are herds of elephants and deer. Thou shalt range the woods with Sita, and shalt delight in rivers, meadows, caves, and springs, in the cries of cuckoos and the belling of the deer, and in pleasant fruits and roots." Then he taught them how to come there, crossing the Jamna and passing the great banyan-tree Shyama, the dusky, and thence by a fair sandy troad through the Jamna forests.
So Rama and Sita and Lakshman took leave of Bharadwaja and crossed the Jasmna by a raft, and came to Shyama. Immediately on arrival there, Sita prayed to Jamna, vowing many offerings of kine and wine for Rama's safe return. To Shyama Sita also prayed, saluting him with folded hands: "O great tree, I bow to thee. May my lord's vow be all fulfilled, and we again behold Kaushalya and Sumitra." Then as they went along the forest path, Sita, seeing trees and flowers unknown, asked Rama many questions, as of their names and virtues; and Lakshman brought her flowers and fruits to pleasure her; and the rippling streams, and the cries of cranes and peacocks, and the sight of elephants and monkeys delighted her.
On the second day they reached the Chitrakuta mountain, where was the hermitage of Valmiki. Greeted by that rishi, Rama told him all that had befallen. Then Lakshman fetched divers sorts of wood, and those brothers built a goodly house with doors and thatched with leaves. Then Lakshman slew a deer and cooked it, and Rama made ritual offerings to the divinities of that very place, and after communion with the deities he entered the well-wrtought thatched house with Sita and Lakshman, and they rejoiced with happy hearts and cast off grieving for Ayodhya.
Driving fast for two days, Rama reached the boundary of Koshala, and, turning back toward Ayodhya, bade farewell to land and people. "O best of cities," said he, "I say it to thee and to the deities that guard and dwell with thee: returning from my forest home, my debt paid off, thee and my father and my mother I will see again." Then they left Koshala, rich in wealth and kine and Brahmans, and passed through other smiling lands until they reached the blessed Ganga, crystal clear, resorted to by every creature, haunted by gods and angels, sinless and sin-destroying. There Guha, king of Nishadha, greeted them and fed their horses and kept guard over them all night, and when the dark cuckoo's note and the peacock's cry were heard at dawn he sent for a splendid ferry-boat. Then Rama asked for starch-paste, and he and Lakshman dressed their hair in matted locks, after the fashion of hermits dwelling in the forest. Rama said farewell to Guha, and Sumantra the charioteer he bade go back to Ayodhya, though he prayed to follow farther. Then as they crossed, Sita prayed to Ganga for safe return after fourteen years, vowing to worship that River-Queen with many offerings.
That night they dwelt by a great tree on the farther bank and ate boar's flesh slain by Rama and Lakshman; and those two brothers vowed to protect Sita and each other, whether in solitude or amongst men. Lakshman should walk in front, then Sita, and Rama last. They talked also of Ayodhya, and Rama, fearing Kaikeyi's evil heart, would have Lakshman return to care for Kaushalya; and he railed against Kaikeyi and somewhat blamed his father, swayed by a woman's will. But Lakshman comforted his brother so that he wept no more. "Thou shouldst not grieve," he said, "grieving Sita and me; and, O Rama, I can no more live without thee than a fish taken out of water -- without thee I do not wish to see my father, nor Satrughna, nor Sumitra, nor Heaven itself." Then Rama was comforted, and slept with Sita under the banyan-tree, while Lakshman watched.
Next day they reached the holy place where Ganga joins with Jamna at Prayag; there they came to the hermitage of Bharadwaja, guided by the wreathing smoke of his sacrificial fire, and they were welcome guests. Bharadwaja counselled them to seek the mountain of Chitrakuta, ten leagues from Prayag. "There is a fit abode for thee," he said, "graced with many trees, resounding with the cries of peacocks, and haunted by great elephants. There are herds of elephants and deer. Thou shalt range the woods with Sita, and shalt delight in rivers, meadows, caves, and springs, in the cries of cuckoos and the belling of the deer, and in pleasant fruits and roots." Then he taught them how to come there, crossing the Jamna and passing the great banyan-tree Shyama, the dusky, and thence by a fair sandy troad through the Jamna forests.
So Rama and Sita and Lakshman took leave of Bharadwaja and crossed the Jasmna by a raft, and came to Shyama. Immediately on arrival there, Sita prayed to Jamna, vowing many offerings of kine and wine for Rama's safe return. To Shyama Sita also prayed, saluting him with folded hands: "O great tree, I bow to thee. May my lord's vow be all fulfilled, and we again behold Kaushalya and Sumitra." Then as they went along the forest path, Sita, seeing trees and flowers unknown, asked Rama many questions, as of their names and virtues; and Lakshman brought her flowers and fruits to pleasure her; and the rippling streams, and the cries of cranes and peacocks, and the sight of elephants and monkeys delighted her.
On the second day they reached the Chitrakuta mountain, where was the hermitage of Valmiki. Greeted by that rishi, Rama told him all that had befallen. Then Lakshman fetched divers sorts of wood, and those brothers built a goodly house with doors and thatched with leaves. Then Lakshman slew a deer and cooked it, and Rama made ritual offerings to the divinities of that very place, and after communion with the deities he entered the well-wrtought thatched house with Sita and Lakshman, and they rejoiced with happy hearts and cast off grieving for Ayodhya.
Footer section, if any
Ramayana
Previous Page
Table of Contents
Next Page
Driving fast for two days, Rama reached the boundary of Koshala, and, turning back toward Ayodhya, bade farewell to land and people. "O best of cities," said he, "I say it to thee and to the deities that guard and dwell with thee: returning from my forest home, my debt paid off, thee and my father and my mother I will see again." Then they left Koshala, rich in wealth and kine and Brahmans, and passed through other smiling lands until they reached the blessed Ganga, crystal clear, resorted to by every creature, haunted by gods and angels, sinless and sin-destroying. There Guha, king of Nishadha, greeted them and fed their horses and kept guard over them all night, and when the dark cuckoo's note and the peacock's cry were heard at dawn he sent for a splendid ferry-boat. Then Rama asked for starch-paste, and he and Lakshman dressed their hair in matted locks, after the fashion of hermits dwelling in the forest. Rama said farewell to Guha, and Sumantra the charioteer he bade go back to Ayodhya, though he prayed to follow farther. Then as they crossed, Sita prayed to Ganga for safe return after fourteen years, vowing to worship that River-Queen with many offerings.
That night they dwelt by a great tree on the farther bank and ate boar's flesh slain by Rama and Lakshman; and those two brothers vowed to protect Sita and each other, whether in solitude or amongst men. Lakshman should walk in front, then Sita, and Rama last. They talked also of Ayodhya, and Rama, fearing Kaikeyi's evil heart, would have Lakshman return to care for Kaushalya; and he railed against Kaikeyi and somewhat blamed his father, swayed by a woman's will. But Lakshman comforted his brother so that he wept no more. "Thou shouldst not grieve," he said, "grieving Sita and me; and, O Rama, I can no more live without thee than a fish taken out of water -- without thee I do not wish to see my father, nor Satrughna, nor Sumitra, nor Heaven itself." Then Rama was comforted, and slept with Sita under the banyan-tree, while Lakshman watched.
Next day they reached the holy place where Ganga joins with Jamna at Prayag; there they came to the hermitage of Bharadwaja, guided by the wreathing smoke of his sacrificial fire, and they were welcome guests. Bharadwaja counselled them to seek the mountain of Chitrakuta, ten leagues from Prayag. "There is a fit abode for thee," he said, "graced with many trees, resounding with the cries of peacocks, and haunted by great elephants. There are herds of elephants and deer. Thou shalt range the woods with Sita, and shalt delight in rivers, meadows, caves, and springs, in the cries of cuckoos and the belling of the deer, and in pleasant fruits and roots." Then he taught them how to come there, crossing the Jamna and passing the great banyan-tree Shyama, the dusky, and thence by a fair sandy troad through the Jamna forests.
So Rama and Sita and Lakshman took leave of Bharadwaja and crossed the Jasmna by a raft, and came to Shyama. Immediately on arrival there, Sita prayed to Jamna, vowing many offerings of kine and wine for Rama's safe return. To Shyama Sita also prayed, saluting him with folded hands: "O great tree, I bow to thee. May my lord's vow be all fulfilled, and we again behold Kaushalya and Sumitra." Then as they went along the forest path, Sita, seeing trees and flowers unknown, asked Rama many questions, as of their names and virtues; and Lakshman brought her flowers and fruits to pleasure her; and the rippling streams, and the cries of cranes and peacocks, and the sight of elephants and monkeys delighted her.
On the second day they reached the Chitrakuta mountain, where was the hermitage of Valmiki. Greeted by that rishi, Rama told him all that had befallen. Then Lakshman fetched divers sorts of wood, and those brothers built a goodly house with doors and thatched with leaves. Then Lakshman slew a deer and cooked it, and Rama made ritual offerings to the divinities of that very place, and after communion with the deities he entered the well-wrtought thatched house with Sita and Lakshman, and they rejoiced with happy hearts and cast off grieving for Ayodhya.
Previous Page
Table of Contents
Next Page
Back to the top
Footer section, if any
Footer section, if any